Saving Lives
Changing Lives

As the conflict in Syria continues into its 11th year, families across the country are facing unprecedented levels of poverty and food insecurity. More Syrians are struggling to put food on their tables today than ever before.

Large-scale hostilities and mass displacement across the northern governorates, combined with a severe economic downturn, mean that the overall food security situation is rapidly deteriorating across the country, and families require support to meet their needs and rebuild their lives.

WFP estimates that 12.4 million Syrians are now food insecure. This is an increase of 4.5 million in the last year alone and the highest number ever recorded. Years of conflict, displacement, soaring food prices and a decline in the value of the Syrian Pound have put additional pressure on families who are now struggling to afford the basics.

Syria’s continuous crisis has depleted community assets, erased livelihoods and eroded household and community resilience. Food systems have been severely disrupted across many areas, leading to widespread food insecurity and the need for food assistance.

In Syria, WFP’s work is focused on both saving and changing lives. By providing families with food assistance and support to rebuild their lives, livelihoods and food systems, Syrians will have the best chance possible to fight hunger, malnutrition and take ownership of their own food needs.

WFP provides life-saving food assistance to 5.6 million people in Syria each month. This assistance helps children across the country to eat healthy meals and snacks at school, mothers and children to eat more nutritious diets, and families to gain new skills to earn an income and create brighter futures.

 

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Syria

Food assistance

WFP provides monthly food assistance to 5.6 million people across Syria by working together with cooperating partners in all 14 governates. This food is distributed to some of the country’s most vulnerable families who have been affected by conflict and need support to rebuild their lives. This is WFP’s largest activity in Syria and provides families with foods such as rice, pulses, oil and wheat to prevent them from slipping further into hunger.

Nutrition

WFP’s nutrition programme helps children to get the best possible start in life and supports pregnant and nursing mothers to fight and prevent malnutrition. WFP currently supports 412,000 pregnant and nursing women and girls and children aged 6—23 months to access nutrient-rich foods and improve their diets across all 14 governates in Syria. Women are provided with cash and vouchers to diversify their diets, improve vitamin and mineral intake, and meet their nutritional needs.

School feeding

WFP provides fortified snacks, fresh meals and assistance through electronic vouchers to more than 560,000 students. This food is a key step towards helping students to improve their health and nutrition and motivates families to send their children to school. The fresh school meals programme in Aleppo employs vulnerable women and provides them with training and an income so they can support their families and become financially independent.

Livelihoods and resilience

WFP’s livelihoods and resilience activities supports families across Syria to protect and restore their livelihoods, improve their food security and enhance their resilience to future shocks. Through trainings and the rehabilitation of local infrastructure, Syrian families will have the opportunities they need to remain on their farms, grow their own food and improve their incomes.

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Syria is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Australia Belgium Canada ECHO Germany

Operations in Syrian Arab Republic

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Contacts

Office

Mezzeh, Damascus, Syria
Damascus
Syria

Phone
+963 11 611 0712
Email
WFP.Damascus@wfp.org
For media inquiries
WFP.Damascus@wfp.org
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